BNSF logistics centers are located in rapidly growing markets and combine warehousing, storage, carload rail service and transloading (the transfer of product from carload rail to truck or truck to carload rail) in one location. They are typically located near existing intermodal facilities.
"BNSF's Logistics Center--Fontana is in the center of a rapidly growing market," said John Lanigan, BNSF executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "By locating this rail-served transload facility near existing intermodal facilities and distribution and warehousing centers, BNSF can offer shippers more modal choices and greater service options."
Logistics Center--Fontana is part of BNSF's Premier Transload Network, a group of premier transload partners that provides the highest quality transload services at the best value.
"We are proud to offer our customers and the Southern California market an efficient and economical transloading solution that has service as its top priority," said Burke Rice, President and Co-Owner of Tristar FLC, Inc.
"The innovation demonstrated by BNSF at this new facility helps with two major issues in our region -- land use and infrastructure -- by making efficient use of existing facilities and making the most of available land," said Assemblyman Joe Baca, Jr. (D-Rialto). "By tying into existing infrastructure and creating facilities that can handle all sorts of goods -- lumber, steel, consumer goods and other commodities -- and more than one mode of transportation -- this project makes more efficient use of rail line capacity and highway capacity."
Located near other existing rail-served facilities and on a dedicated spur with direct access to the BNSF main rail line, Logistics Center--Fontana will enable BNSF to improve the gathering and distribution process within its carload network to provide more consistent service, and allows customers to quickly react to market demands.
"With one large facility that handles multiple commodities, BNSF is able to simplify its operations by creating the density required to build trains at this one transload facility instead of gathering rail cars at several smaller ones," Lanigan said. "In the end, our carload customers will benefit from more efficient and consistent service and the customers using this transload facility will have access to more capacity and greater service options."
Logistics Center--Fontana began handling carloads on a limited scale in late November 2005 as the first phases of the facility were completed. Logistics Center--Fontana is now fully operational with sufficient capacity to handle up to 15,000 rail carloads per year.
